Track-shifter.



W. M. WISE.

TRACK SHIFTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15. 1918.

1,285,872. Patented Nov. 26, 1918,

' 1 f I. )9 23 FP 5 24 WITNESSES INVENTOR i w l r WMM m 1i TTORNEYS' WILBUR MORTON WISE, 0F MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

TRACK-SHIFTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2c, 1918.

Application filed February 15, 1918. Serial No. 217,351.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILBUR MORTON WISE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Manila, Philippine Islands, have invented a new and Improved Track- Shifter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to means for use in setting and readjusting tracks, and particularly what may be termed a track shifting device, and has for an object the provision of an improved arrangement whereby entire track or independent rails may be shifted quickly and easily without interrupting the traflic passing thereover.

Another object in view is to provide an improved, quickly adjustable gripping structure for rails capable of use in connection with an ordinary jack for acting on the rails and causing the longitudinal movement thereof for resetting or shifting the position thereof to a new or desired position.

A still -further object in view is the method ,of utilizing the jack and gripping members for shifting tracks or rails without disturbing the traffic passing thereover.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figurel is a side view of adjacent ends of rails and part of a roadbcd together with an embodiment of the invention applied to the rails.

Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the clamps shown in Fig. 1 together with a part of a rail and part of a tie.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a number of rails in correct position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a number of rails shifted by creeping to an incorrect position, an embodiment of the invention being shownassociated therewith.

Fig. 5 1s a side view of ad acent rail ends together with a filling member or temporary section positioned therebetween.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of wedge or key to that shown in. Fig. 2.

.Fig. 7 is a detail, fragmentary, sectional view through Fig. 2 on line 7-7.

It has been found by experience that rails on, double track railways ,move longitudinally or creep to a considerable extent as the trains always move the same way. and consequently the action of the driving wheels of the engine tends to produce a movement of the rails. This creeping is objectionable because the different rails creep continually and consequently the track becomes twisted, and in some instances the securing bolts on the fish-plates are sheared off, so that unless moved back to their proper position accidents occur. To pull the spikes and move back the different rails to their proper position involves a considerable expense and also necessitates a considerable disturbance of the traflic, as a large section usually is shifted. at one time. Even where small section are shifted the rails must be loosened to such an extent as to be dangerous for the passage of a train thereover. Various methods have been heretofore used for shifting the rails, the most common one being the loosening of the joints, length the rails so as to crowd the loo ened rail back to its former position. Where the shifting of a rail is a very short distance as for instance oneinch, this method may be satisfactory, but where it is several inches or a foot, this method is more Or less objectionable, by reason of the length of time required to accomplish the result desired and the expense involved. In the accompanying drawing a structure is shown ada uted to move any rail. or number of rails, without interfering with the usual trafiic passing over the rails. In some instances it is possible, bv the structure shown in the drawing, to shift a small section, or a complete'track, or shift a switch.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 and 2 indicate the adjacent ends of rails of a railway, rail 1 being fastened rigidly in position by the usual spikes, while rail 2- is shown loose and shifted to its original position. The idea is to loosen one rail. as for instance rail 2, while leaving rail 1 fastened in position, said loosening action being the drawing of the spikes for a short,distance. as shown in Fig. 2. When the spikes are drawn a short distance they will hold the rail in place sufiiciently for I pulling the spikes in a single rail and then inserting a wedge between allowing a train to pass thereover if the fish-plates have been placed in position. To shift the rail as shown in Fig. 1 clamping members 3 and 4 are clamped to the respective rails while they are adajaeent and then the jack 5 is placed therebetween and operated so as to push the loosened rail longitudinally. Clamps 3 and t are identical and are constructed as shown in Fig. 2, from which it will be seen that these clamps are provided. with clamping plates 6 and 7 formed at their lower end so as to exactly fit the ball of the rail while the upper end is provided with a contact portion 8. The parts are so con tructed as to leave an opening 9 whereby the bolt 10 passing through apertures in the plates (3 and T will cause a pres sure at portion 8 and cause the lower end of the plate to grip tightly the ball of the rail. olt 10 is provided with aslot 11. for accommodating a key 12 which key is interposed between plate 6 and the washer 13. A nut 1 1 is mounted on the threaded'end of the bolt and is tightened by a suitable wrench so that the parts will grip the rail as shown in Fig. 2. In case it should be desired to quickly remove the clamp nut 1-1 is given a short unscrewing movement and key 12 is then removed. This will provide ample space for movement of the plates 6 and 7 so that they may be'disconnected from the rail. This quick detaching feature is desirable as when shifting the tracks in constant use the entire structure can be applied and removed quickly so as not to molest tratiic. In case the bolt having the slot 11 is not convenient or is not desired for any reason, a U-shaped structure 15 may be used, said U-shaped structure straddling the bolt instead of passing through the slot. Either structure will allow the device to be applied or removed by a very small movement of nut 1t.

When the track is first laid the rails are I arranged as shown in Fig. 3 with a small expension space 16 provided therebetween. These rails are of course connected together by suitable fish-plates and are connected with the cross ties by suitable spikes now in common use. In case the rails shown in Fig. 3 use a single track with trains running both directions the creeping action would be balanced by trains going in the opposite direction and consequently the rails would remain usually in the position shown in Fig. 3. However, in parts of the country where there is a large amount of trafiic two sets of tracks, or more, are provided so that the tracks will eventually assume the position shown in Fig. 11, though originally as shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 4 it will be seen that a large opening 17 is found at one part of the track, and a small opening 18 at another part. The opening 18 is near a switch or other structure where a large number of 1 ,aeasrz spikes are provided and other means are used which will prevent longitudinal movement of the rails. hen the rails are p0- sitioned as shown in Fig. 4; it is necessary to move them back to their former position or the continued use would cause the tracks to buckle and to shear the bolts in the fishplates. By using the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 one of the rails may be shifted or a number at a given time. For instance, the bolts in the fish-plates at openings 17, 19, and 20 may be loosened and the spikes on rails 21 and 22 may be slightly turned and a shifting device 23, similar to that shown in Fig. 1 applied at the joint 20. wedge or plug of the proper length may be positioned in the opening 19 so that when the jack 5 is operated rail 22 will move the proper distance longitudinally toward opening 17 and then both the rails 21 and 22 will move until. the proper opening has been provided at 17. This will leave anextra wide opening at 20 which may befilled by shifting theother rails in the track singly or a number at one time as just set forth.

This method of shifting the rails will not injure the track nor the rails, as there is no pounding action on the abutting ends of the rails or 110 bruising of said rails by wedges acting thereon for spreading the same. The arrangement of the clamps 3 and 4 are such that they will'move the rails longitudinally without lifting the rails or without having a tendency to force the other rails downwardly as in the case of a wedge. In case there should be a large opening be tween adjacent rails, as would be provided when the device- 23 shown in Fig.4 had moved the rails 21 and 22, a filling plug or section 24 could be insertedand held in place by the usual fish-plate for the passage of a train. The lengths of these sections 2t may be varied as may be required, preferably the sections are of a proper! length fol-receiving two of the bolts of the fish-plate where the fish-plate is provided with four bolts. If the fish-plate should be provided with more bolts the same section could be used for sections having three or more bolts to be utilized. It will of course be evident that the lower portion or aws 6' and 7 as well as the entire plates 6 and? are made sufiieiently heavy and massive, to withstand thev strain applied thereto and to provide an ample gripping surface for en gaging the rails.

What I claimis: I j

1. A rail shifter comprising a pairof clamping members, each of said clamping members comprising a pair of plates having at one end jaws with sockets adapted to fit over the ball of the rail, and a fulcrumed projection at the other end, a bolt extending through said plates for clamping the plates to said rail, means for tightening said bolts,

and a spreading member associated with ing said gripping members in position, and said clamps for giving movement to one of a U-shaped key member interposed between 10 the rails engaged by said clamps. the nut of said bolt and said gripping-mem- 2. A rail shifter comprising a spreading bers whereby asmall turn of the nut will 5 member and a pair of clamps, each of said permit the removal of the key member and clamps comprising a pair of gripping mema loosening of the gripping members. bers for engaging the rail, a bolt extending through said gripping members for clamp- WILBUR MORTON WISE.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

